Sitting around a small table on the deck they told Captain Lemuel Manse the story of Diada’s sojourn in Tickfall.
Finally Gaitskill asked:
“Lem, what the devil did that wench mean by hollering ‘Whoosh!’ at everybody?”
“She was not saying ‘Whoosh,’” Captain Manse replied. “What she said was ‘Whu atch!’ That was the first expression she used to me when the cannibal chief brought her aboard the yacht.”
“Well, what does it mean?” Gaitskill persisted.
Captain Manse put his hand with a kindly gesture upon his friend’s arm and told him.
Gaitskill’s fine face turned ashen, and he winced as if a knife had pierced his heart.
The words mean:
“Help! I am in trouble!”